Complex information systems - What are they and what do they do

To someone looking in from the outside, complex information systems can be just that - complex, inaccessible and with people unsure to utilise the system to get anything useful of out if for themselves or for their business. Despite humans being complex organisms, with intelligence and the ability to form judgements, we are only able to process a certain amount of information at one time. Collecting, processing, filtering, storing and re-formatting this data into an informational format that others can understand and that we can share amongst ourselves and organisations, will take time; and essentially, we can only process one set of information at a time. Sometimes, the complexity of the data needs to be processed simultaneously and this is where complex information systems come into its own. So, what is it and what do we need to make it work?

What is it?

In a nutshell, complex information systems is the gathering of information and the subsequent processing of this information, to create information in a format that is usable accessible and understandable to an organisation or to society.

Complementary networks - that is, connections - are utilised between software (programs and databases) and hardware (computers and associated devices) that people, companies, organisations, agencies etc. use to perform the key functions of being able to use information, that is to collect, filter, process, create and distribute data or information - this can be defined as an information system.

Complexity within information systems is created when various mathematical or algorithmic processes are applied to the discipline. These ‘mathematical calculations’ are added to the mix to make these key functions mentioned above more efficient.

The disciplines

Complex information systems bring into play business and computer science, underpinned by information science to create an information system with emphasis on functionality and usability, over and above design.

In lay man terms, complex information systems process information that creates information that the end user can understand and use.

The development and history of complex information systems has developed in line with computer science and the idea behind the use of such systems is focussed on processing information for organisations and sharing these benefits with modern society. complex information systems are designed to handle large amounts of information, creating and performing complex calculation, and controlling processes that occur at the same time.

To make it work...?

Complex information system is a scientific field of study that addresses a broad range of issues at strategic, managerial and operational level, involved in the key functions mentioned at the start of the article - that is, collecting, filtering, processing, creating and distributing information throughout society and organisations.

Information systems are not the same as information technology; information systems is about pulling out the information and using it. All manner of organisations have information systems from global organisation, through the government departments and not-for-profit organisation and more.

But, information and computer technology (ICT) is required to run the complex information systems, some components of which most people will be very familiar with.

Computer based information systems is a way in which information is used by computer technology to carry out some - if not all - tasks.

There are basic components of computer based information systems:

Hardware - these are the devices that are familiar to anyone who use a PC such as the monitor, processing tower, printer and keyboard. All these hardware devices have to work together to be able to accept and process information.

Software - these are the programs that we need to use to input and process the data, creating information that is usable and accessible.

Database - a database is created when data is gathered and analysed in files or tables

Networks - this is the ‘connecting system’ that allows computers to communicate if they share the same network, meaning that resources and data can be shared.

Procedures - these are the commands that combine to process information producing the data is the required, preferred output.

At the end of this process, it is people who operate the system, interacting with the software and the processes, making use of the output. The first four components are known as the information technology platform whilst the final function (procedures) is the function that analyses and creates the information in a format suitable to distribute.

Applications

Several companies focus on creating complex information systems for a variety of businesses that will help them advance in their chosen field.